Troy Tulowitzki promotes sun safety

Rockies shortstop knows all too well importance of care

This season, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is teaming up with Major League Baseball and the American Academy of Dermatology to warn players and fans of the importance of sun safety through the Play Sun Smart public education campaign.

In February, Tulowitzki's cousin Lexy Winters died of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. That in turn motivated Tulowitzki to dedicate this season in his cousin's honor and to help raise awareness about skin cancer and its impact.

"MLB asked me to help spread the word about the dangers of skin cancer as I have dedicated this season to Lexy Winters -- my cousin, friend and mentor -- who died from complications from skin cancer," Tulowitzki said. "That was a tough way to learn that I need to get a regular body check by a dermatologist, check myself regularly and protect myself with an SPF of at least 30 before going outdoors. I learned to Play Sun Smart so that I can stay in the game. No one can compensate for the loss of a loved one, but helping to educate people makes me feel good and would make my cousin proud."

For the 12th consecutive year, MLB players, coaches and on-field personnel are serving as role models for their fans by getting screened and practicing sun-safe behaviors as they spend long hours in the sun throughout the baseball season. Since 1999, dermatologists have conducted more than 23,500 skin cancer screenings through the Play Sun Smart program, detecting more than 700 suspicious lesions, including more than 80 suspected melanomas.

For more information about sun safety and the Play Sun Smart program, visit Playsunsmart.org .

Halladay relishes perfect game: After tossing a perfect game against the Marlins on Saturday night, Roy Halladay said that enjoying such success is something he could never really consider until it actually happened. Halladay's was the 20th perfect game in big league history.

"It's something you never think about," Halladay told MLB.com. "It's hard to explain. There's days where things just kind of click and things happen, and it's something you obviously never go out and try and do. But it's a great feeling."

Halladay has a big fan in Millwood: When Roy Halladay threw a perfect game on Saturday, Kevin Millwood was excited for him -- but he didn't let it change his dinner plans.

"I'm happy for him. I think it's cool when anybody does something like that," Millwood told MLB.com. "But my reaction was 'Oh that's cool, good for him,' then I went on to eating my steak. It didn't change my night or anything."

"He's probably one of the few guys I'd probably pay to see pitch," he said. "He's just, you know what you are going to get every time out. It's pretty impressive."

Moyer thrilled to see Halladay's perfecto: Even Jamie Moyer still sees something new every game, so he was more happy than surprised when teammate Roy Halladay threw his perfect game.

"Anything can happen in this game, as we all know," Moyer told MLB.com. "So I think you always respect that, and you go out and you compete, and you see where it takes you. I can't be happier for Roy and what he was able to accomplish."

Bell hosts softball game for Marines: Heath Bell celebrated his Memorial Day with a group of Marines -- the Wounded Warriors -- by hosting a softball game at PETCO Park.

Marines and their families were able to play and have barbecue with Bell and other San Diego players, including Clayton Richard, Chase Headley, Sean Gallagher, Chris Young and team president and CEO Tom Garfinkel.

"We're just trying to help them along in times of need," Bell told MLB.com. "They have the thankless job of the country, and the Padres try to thank them every chance we get. It's a great feeling just to get back out there and mess around with the guys -- and see how happy they were to be on a Major League baseball field."

Bell's father was a Marine and considered joining the Marines himself before his baseball career took off.

"The Marines have always been really close to my heart," Bell said.

Holiday travel catches up with Lillibridge: After being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to join the White Sox, Brent Lillibridge learned a lesson.

"Don't travel on Memorial Day," Lillibridge told MLB.com. "I didn't have a choice, but a lot of cancellations and a lot of weird stuff. Bags got lost. So we put in a call to find my bags. I'm wearing [Mark] Kotsay's cleats and [Gordon] Beckham's glove and hoping for the best. We'll see if the bags show up before game time, but we'll do whatever it takes."

Chacin's first hit one to remember: Gustavo Chacin's first Major League hit was the home run he hit on Monday afternoon against the Nationals in his first Major League plate appearance since June 26, 2006.

The Astros' left-hander smashed a drive down the right-field line and the ball just cleared the fence inside the foul pole.

"It surprised me," Chacin told MLB.com. "Like I said, I tried to get on base in that situation. That's all that was on my mind right there."

"He's got more home runs than me and [Jeff] Keppinger put together already in one swing of the bat," said teammate Michael Bourn, who got his first triple of the season on Monday.

Capuano to make first start since 2007: Chris Capuano was scheduled for his first start since September 2007 on Thursday against the Marlins. The Milwaukee left-hander is returning from his second Tommy John surgery, which he had in May 2008. In seven starts in Class A and Triple-A this season, Capuano went 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA. In 39 2/3 innings, he allowed only four walks while striking out 33.

"He's a very regimented guy," manager Ken Macha told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "The opinion of our people that have worked with him is that we'll get the most out of him by putting him in a regimen.

"They were extremely complimentary of his preparation and the routine he went through. As an organization, we've put a lot of energy into getting him back. And he's done the same thing on his side, probably more so.

"We owe this to him because of what he's done to get himself back up here. We feel this puts him in the optimum position to perform."

Pettitte ties Ford with 236th victory: Andy Pettitte won his seventh game in eight decisions on Monday. In seven innings against Cleveland he allowed only one run and he retired the final 14 batters he faced. With the win, Pettitte also tied Whitey Ford on baseball's all-time win list with 236 victories.

"That's awesome," Pettitte told MLB.com. "It really is, because he's just been a special person for me in my career here. He's been a huge supporter of mine and he's a great man. I love him to death."

Pettitte now needs only one more victory to reach 200 as a Yankee.

Jimenez's ERA drops to 0.78: Ubaldo Jimenez continued his mastery against opposing hitters on Monday as he shut out the San Francisco Giants 4-0 while allowing only four hits.

"I went to bed at 10 last night and slept great," Jimenez told the Denver Post. "I was anticipating this game, but I was like, 'Don't get too high. Just go out there and try to execute your pitches. Throw your fastball for strikes.' And that's what I did."

Jimenez is now 10-1 with a 0.78 ERA. He is a perfect 4-0 at Coors Field with a 1.29 ERA and has an amazing 0.52 ERA and 6-1 record on the road.

Hensley credits Hoffman for success: Clay Hensley has a 1.30 ERA in 27 2/3 innings for the Marlins and credits his success to all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman, who was his mentor when both were with the Padres.

"Everything I know about coming out of the bullpen I learned from him," Hensley, a teammate of Hoffman's with the Padres for parts of four seasons (2005-08), told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "I was pretty fortunate to come up with a team that had guys who were willing to teach us younger guys. It's been a huge impact on where I'm at, especially what I'm doing now. I'm going back to conversations we had when I was there."

Ely continues to impress: John Ely has gone from untested rookie to a guy the Dodgers expect will give them a strong performance each time out.

"I think he's been tested about everywhere," manager Joe Torre told the Los Angeles Times. "Not in postseason, but you go into Wrigley Field and pitch the kind of game he did [7 1/3 innings, one run, four hits], I mean Wrigley Field can be intimidating considering its history. It's certainly unique compared to other ballparks."

Gross settling in nicely as starter: Veteran Gabe Gross, generally considered a reserve player when he joined the A's this season, has played in seven of eight games on the 10-day trip and has responded with a .435 average (10-for-23) with regular playing time.